MONSTER MAYHEM! – GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH (ゴジラ対ヘドラ | Gojira tai Hedora)

• Directed by Yoshimitsu Banno
• Starring Akira Yamanouchi, Toshie Kimura, Hiroyuki Kawase
• 1971 | 85mins | Japan | Event: 18+

“WITH DEADLY BREATH AND VENOMED BLOOD IT SLITHERS ACROSS THE LAND – A POISONED SLIME IN ITS WAKE… A TREMBLING WORLD IN ITS PATH!”

An ever evolving alien life-form arrives to consume Earth’s rampant pollution. Spewing mists of sulphuric acid and corrosive sludge, neither humanity or Godzilla may be able to defeat this toxic menace.

GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH aka The Smog Monster (1971) was the 11th spawning of Godzilla and possibly the most critically derided (to that point…). The big guy had by now transformed into a full-blown defender of the Earth – rather than its avenging destroyer – and goes into battle with shape-shifting/flying toxic sludge. Controversially, Godzilla even flies himself thanks to the power of his atomic ray…

The film – directed by Yoshimitsu Banno, with special effects by Teruyoshi Nakano – is a psychedelic trip complete with go-go dancers, fish-head hallucinations, split-screens, hand-drawn animation, leaps between black & white and colour film, jarring sequences of gore, and even a song to save the earth. You’ll either love it or hate it… you already know where we stand.

“While it’s no longer regarded as the worst Godzilla movie, it is still regarded as the strangest.” (John Lemay, The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies)

Long-serving BAR TRASH fans will delight in knowing GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER was released in the USA on a planet-saving double-bill with slimy eco-horror FROGS (1972 – a title we will definitely screen one day!). It also featured in last season’s book The Golden Turkey Awards as one of “The People’s Choice” nominations for “The Worst Film of All Time”.

BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by Token Homo. All films screen with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, themed drinks and subtitles/captions (where possible!). Tickets from £3.